Barton County KS Archives Biographies.....Dodge, Family ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 6, 2005, 12:15 am Author: Great Bend Tribune THE DODGE FAMILY [drawing illustration] Dugout Home of E. J. Dodge IN THE history of Barton County there is no family that has taken a more active part in its making than that of Edward Judson Dodge. He was born at Breedshill, near Hannibal, in Oswego County, New York, November 25, 1822. He came with his parents to Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1836. Here he went to school and lived his boyhood years It was in Kenosha that he met Miss Elizabeth Possen whom he married December 31, 1840. They were the parents of eight children as follows: Charles E., Wallace H., Don D., Giles B., Lizzie, Jennie, Mary and Maggie. In 1871 the call of the west became too strong for Mr. Dodge to withstand and he came to Barton County, Kansas, in that year and at once took an active part in the development of the county's resources. He located on a homestead about four miles north of Great Bend where he built an abode that consisted of a dugout on the bank of Walnut creek. Here the family resided for a number of years, and were among the best known and most highly respected of the early settlers of this part of the state. Mr. Dodge came here alone but was joined by his family after he had secured a location and made arrangements for the making of a home. He farmed for a number of years and, finally retired and moved to Great Bend where he took up his residence. Mr. Dodge was a blacksmith by trade and followed this line of business until a short time before his death which occurred October 10, 1910, after he had reached the age of 87 years, 10 months and 27 days. Mr. Dodge's first wife died November 1, 1889. In June he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Wells, who still resides in this county. The Dodge family always took an active part in the public affairs of the county and Charles E. was register of deeds for seven -terms, administering the affairs of this office for fourteen years. At the end of his seventh term he gave up politics and since that time has been engaged in die abstract business. He has also served on the school board a number of years and upon his arrival in this country he first followed the occupation of school teacher. Wallace Dodge is one of the best known real estate men in this section of the state and has offices in Great Bend. Don also lives in Great Bend and is a retired farmer; Giles is a painter and paperhanger and is actively engaged in this line of work in Barton County; Jennie is now Mrs. Ingersoll of Claflin; Mary is now Mrs. W. P. Feder, her husband being the editor of the Barton County Democrat; Lizzie is now Mrs. George Spencer of Great Bend and Maggie is now Mrs. Jones of Hollywood, Calif. The head of the Dodge family came to this county when the buffaloes were still roaming the prairies in this part of the country and he enjoyed the distinction of having built the first bridge to span Walnut creek north of the town of Great Bend. We print herewith a picture of the Dodge home on Walnut creek and from this picture one can set an idea of how the people lived in those days and see the conditions with which the early settlers had to contend. Mr. Dodge's death came as a great shock to the community where he had scores of friends which were made and kept by his kindness and many manly qualities. Additional Comments: From: Biographical History Of Barton County File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/barton/bios/dodge19gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb